Vatican beatifies Blues Brothers ... well almost

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VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Jake and Elwood, the loveable if hapless characters played by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in the classic 1980 film The Blues Brothers, have finally gotten Vatican recognition for their “Mission from God.”

To mark this week’s 30th anniversary of the film, which became a cult classic and spawned a fashion of wearing black hats and dark sunglasses to parties, the Vatican newspaper dedicated a full page and no fewer than five articles to it.

One of the articles says there is “no lack of evidence” that The Blues Brothers can be considered “a Catholic film.”

It notes that Jake’s release from prison and the commitment by him and Elwood to put their blues revival band back together to raise money to save an orphanage from forced closure has parallels with the Biblical story of the prodigal son.

Jake and Elwood — who say they are on a “mission from God” to raise the money to pay a back tax bill for the orphanage — and the band members, are symbols of “redemption obtained with sacrifice.”

The newspaper also notes that the film is sprinkled with Catholic and moral references such as the nun Sister Mary Stigmata, who they call “The Penguin.”

Elwood even passes up a chance for a one-night stand with a woman played by Twiggy in order to fulfill the mission, it says.

“This is a memorable film, and, judging by the facts, a Catholic one,” the newspaper said.